1. In criminal cases, the defendant can defend himself or be appointed by the judicial organ, and there is no defense lawyer;
2. According to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law, a criminal suspect may entrust a third person to defend himself at the stage of examination and prosecution by the people's procuratorate and trial by the people's court. There are two ways for criminal suspects to exercise their right of defense in criminal proceedings, one is self-defense and the other is entrusted defense. In any of the following circumstances, the people's court may appoint a defender for the defendant:
(1) conforms to the economic hardship standard stipulated by the local government;
(2) I really have no source of income, and my family's economic situation cannot be ascertained;
(3) I really have no financial resources, and my family members are still unwilling to bear the expenses of defense lawyers after repeated persuasion;
(4)*** In the same criminal case, other defendants have entrusted defenders;
(5) Having foreign nationality;
(6) Cases with significant social impact;
(7) The people's court believes that the procuratorial opinions and the obtained case evidence materials may affect the correct conviction and sentencing.
Legal basis: Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC).
A criminal suspect or defendant may entrust one or two persons as defenders in addition to exercising their right of defense. The following persons may be entrusted as defenders:
(1) lawyers;
(2) A person recommended by a people's organization or the unit to which the criminal suspect or defendant belongs;
(3) Guardians, relatives and friends of criminal suspects and defendants.
A person who has been sentenced to punishment according to law or deprived of or restricted personal freedom shall not act as a defender.
A person who has been dismissed from public office or has his lawyer's or notary's practice certificate revoked may not act as a defender, except the guardian or near relative of the criminal suspect or defendant.